Filling apparatus.



K. KIEFER.

FILLING APPARATUS. APPLicA'TmN mio `Auchan 1am.

1 ,227,628, n laeimhiwl May 2S), 1917,

:.2 sHEzrs--SHEET 1.

LiL/5c i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

KARL KTEFER, or cINcINNATI, oHIo.

FILLING APPARATUS.

Speriiicatio of Letters Patent.` Puten-i3d 29 1917',

Appncauen med August a1, 1915, serial No. 48,373.

To (d/whom t may ooncforn: l lle it known that l, KARL KIEFER, a e1't1- Zen of `the United States, residing at Glneinnati7 in the county of lr'lamilton andl State of Ohio, have invented certain new 'and usefuly Improvements in Filling A ppw ratos, ofuvliieh the'following is a specification. g l

My invention relates to' filling n'iaehi'nes;

1u)l and itsv object is to fill a plurality of oontainers, especially bottles of smaller slzes,

sueli'as panel bottles, areuratelyto a unifoxn'l'le'ight. u y t My vinvention consists inthe parts and 1n.

the details of construction and arrangement i embodying;r my invention, the verticalguide dileielit position.

The: filling head shown isdesignedto be mounted and guidedin asuitable maehine lframe bymeansot a. vertical reet-angular so bar l rigidly vconnected to the upper side of a horizontal bar .2 `that forms the main supportingelement of the fillingr head. l AMstud,

vIl projecting horizontally from the connec- -ltionoftthe barsl vand'. 2, serves Ifor conneclk tion'with suitable o )erating Ineehanisnt;V not here; sl'row n, tolnloieffthefilling head u i dou-in." At 'the/ends,V the -horizont'a far 2, has downwardly ,estemlingfrods frein wwhieh horizontal farms `Fijojeet `bael; and v40 eailI-y the manifold whie li: is closed at -one end-'by :ti-plug and at the 'otherV` endhas .suitablebnieans for: connecting to the source -of supply othe' .liquid with, hieh the oon- Itainers are to be A)Cil-led,,sueltas tlieelbow Some-distance bellow vthe bar 2 is an "other horizontal bar Qwith its end parts flixed to the-rails l. andsupported and guided -w-on" tlie-lower end `parte ofthe rods l is a 'bottle-lop ,guide lll"yieldablyrheld down by springs 111` Coil-ed around -tlie rods 4 under the lower bar-9. j

As here shown, there are six filling tubes 12 eaehmounted in a eonneetionhead 13 having'a shank 14 extending' up through the lower bar'9 and into -the main upper. bai" 2, so that the connection head may sllde eaeh filling tube',` a forwardly' Xt -that extends back through up and down and be guided by these bars.

Embracing each shank 14 between the uppenand lower bars vE12-and 9 is welamping member 15 held tomove up and `down with the shank by means of a pin 15 extend-ing through the member and the shank. Cornpressed between the `1neii1berl15`la1jid the lupper bar '2 around eaelr-shank 14,-s aoiled spring 1G which thus yieldably holds the. connection head with its sha-nk and clamping member down toward the lower bar 9.

Eat-'h connection head hasl a lower bore i or passage 1( and an npperybore Aor passage 18. The filling tube'12 termmat'e's n1 and communicates with the` Vlower passage 17,

but inside the filling tube is-ejientor over-A llow' tubel 19 which passes up tl'rroug'lr'` the lower passage 17S4 ind communicates with the fuppelg; passa 182: The-loweren'd 20 of `this `tilbel 19A opens laterally ithro'ugl'i the filling tube 12 slightly a-boveffthelower` enil 'of the tube `12.

` Communicating 'with the bores or pasf` sages 17 and 18 and leading fonvardlytherefrom are tubes 21 and'Q, '1'espect\'ely,which `4 curve upward and baekward, terminating at about the Ylevel of the lower side/'ofthe elamping member 15. 1

The manifold 6 above referred Vto,

inside, a partition with its ends 2' ing back and joining the inner si'd of the has,

manifold (l, thereby formingdistinetrrinlet and overflow eoml'mrt'mellts. 2'5" sluujtnely,iml the nnuinlfold.- a near one end of ther'compatiue ple 2S eo'nununic-ating` wi l'iartnient 25, and also 'l'oi v, How tube 'a forwardly extending nl the inlet -conrpartment 25 and 'communie lm'rtitionil with the orerfloi yoompaix'tnle'nt Q6. Connected to these rriiipile's28'jalulj29` and to the curved tubes 21 und Qfg-respectively,-4 are flexible tubes 3'0`sand 31 which pple 29 through the extend through the spaee beti Venfthe .dainty I ingmember 15' alud' the lower through the passage 17curvedy tu-b`e121, 'eiii through the passageV 18, curved Jtube 22, flexible tube 31 and nl'nplef29 with tlxil'l,

overflow Compartment 26 of .the 'mgnifol 19 and thevoverflow the' fillin'g head .as soon 'as that it carries connected to the bars 2. and

finsteado rising higher inthe hea'd,l beclamped by said clamping member 15 down againstthe upper side of the bar Qiand willthusbe flattened and entirely 'closed against the "passage of liquid, as shown in Fig. 2. Each clamping member 15 lin-eferably 'has on its lower side', a rib 15 which has' its lower side rounded' to effecparts I are so formed that at the first depression of again., as shown in Fig. 2, and stop further liow of the liquid. l So that the clamping minbersl' will not bear upon and perinanentl distort the flexible tubes 30 and 31 when t e machine is'l not in use, the connection heads 13 areheld up y vby means of hooksv 35 straddling the connection heads and engaging over the upper'- edge of the bar 9. Preferably these hooks the filling head the Will fall forward 'away from the bar 9' an( ,will require manual einy gagement therewith when use of vthe ma?. chine isto be again discontini'led.` l By withdrawing the/pin 15 from? the clamping member 151 and 'shank llhtliefcon`vr l ncction head 13 Withits tubes may be re-` moved downwardly from the filling head and 'the flexible tubes'BO andl 31 maybe tl'velfbejar on the tubes 30 and 31 without Mounted on each filling tube l2 is a stop member 32 with' a gasket 33 below it and heldfpositively against upward movement on the tube 'b v a spacing fpin 34 fitting in sockets inthe stop member and in the lower sideofthe connection head 13.

lVlien the filling head bottle-top 'guide 10.will passl over the top of the bottlegand theffillinfg-tube 12 will be inserted iitojth'e bottle `until the top of .the bottle -is engaged by' the gasket 33 which Will el'ectively'olosethe bottle against comrestltsf -in av movement ofthe connection head1@ =upward relative to the frame of the filling Ahead against the 'pressure olithe s prln-g 16, thus raising ,the clamping member"rl'fo'm'the position shown in Fig. 2 to that'shovvil in 3, and thus opening the tubesI 30 vand v31,2allowing liquid to flow through the inlet passages and filling tube ,12 intothe bottleg" the air that was in the "bottle bein@ forced: out through the vent or and the overflow passages.

@vere-we t .Thefliquidwillieontinue to flow into the bpttle until its leve-1 'reaches the lower vopen end'QO ofthe vent or overflow bottle it Will or vent tube passages as long as 1i uid continues to be su' plied through the fillingvtube, Of eoiise tile 'attendant raises possible after the limi?! outtlirough fthe overflow tube 19. Then"- is brought down thev munioation with"-the outer atmosphere. fFurther? depression fof thefilling head then' desired level has been -ached'rs above described, butany delay: in raising will not y I vresl'rlt in filling or. overflow of the bottle, but merely-in allow out through the over-1 'f' flowf'passages. Upon raising the filling head .and ybotti el the-spring 16,.'closing 'the tubes 30 ndl disengagement of the gasket 33 from the .L cnnection headz and. iil'pingmember 15 will be .moved clcllvn'bV what I claim as `ble tubes,

neetioni betweensaid tube and pulled .from over the ends of the tubes 21 and 22, so that another connection head with a similar shank 14 andtubes'Ql fand 22 'b ut 1 with a filling'tube of dilerentsize, maybe substituted inthe machine for filling' bottles of a different size. It will'b'e'understood that the inlet and overflow connections to the manifold `6 land the Voverflow nipple 27 will be flexible, 'since "the entire'fillin'gA head must move up and" down vwith respect to the source` o f liquid By utilizing theiaexibletubes 30v ind'l '81]' .as t e-means forcontrollin'g'the outflow-of liquid simply byolamping' them Aasbefore described,` a practical and efficient filling afi-f paratus is provided Without complicatiomusuch as is generally-involved in providing' valves for-thefi-llingrtubes. The ileXible-conneetions for each filling tube and vent or 105l overflow tube are provided withan indi-fl vidual clamping means 15 operated-inde'-vv pendentl'y of t'he `clzfunping means-of4 the other tubes rather than by having .a single clamping means acting upon allof-theflexi 1 '10 because it i is found that 'the appaf ratus works more smootlilyfupon; the various bottles which slightly vary-in site and would' 'thus cause some irregularity of' operation and binding if all of the" `were ri idly connected, such as 'by `fbeing1""" 'l made oa sin le 4'bar'. understood that 'this and other m'inor`def' tails of my invention above described, are

in aecordancewith 120 However-n' will be i subject to modification varying requirements. 1

Having fully described my invention, new and desire `to secure by Letters Patent is:

1 Inflling apparatus, incombinationjiz,

movable up.'

with' supportm 'element that is =a '1'1d"d.own, a lling tu'be and ply 'means mounted upon andl and down with said element, a

liquid supmovable up flexible con` clamping means 1.15 'o I 'said means, 1301 and-clamping' means acting on said flexible connection vto close it.'

2. yInfilling apparatus, in combination with a. Supporting element that is movable up and down, a filling tube and a vent or overflow tube and means having an inlet passage and. an overflow passage mounted upon and movable up and down with said element, flexible tubes connecting the fillin tube and the vent or overflow tube with said inlet'passage and said overflow passage, respectively, and clamping means acting u on said flexible tubes to close them.

3. n filling apparatus, in combination with supporting element that is movable up and down, a filling tube and liquid supply means mounted upon 4and movable up and down with said element, a flexible connection between said tube and said means, clamping means acting on said flexible connection to close it, and a. detachable connection between V7-said filling tube and said clamping means.

4. In filling apparatus, in combination with supporting elemenbthat is movable 11 and down, a fillingtube and liquid supp y means, mounted nponand movable up and down with said element, a flexible connection between said tube and said means, clamping means acting on said flexible connection to close it, and means actingto remove the action of said clamping means from said flexible connection when said fillin" `tubeis connected with a container to be led therefrom. 1

5. In filling apparatus, in combination with a. supportin element that is movable up and down, a 'llingtube and a vent or overflow tube and means having an inlet passage and an overflow vpassage mounted u )on and movable up and down with said e ement, flexible tubes 'connecting the filling tube and the vent or overflow tube' with said inlet passage.- andsaid overflow passage, res'p clamping means acting upon Said tubes to close them, and means acting to remove the action of' said clamping -inalis from said. flexible tubes when said filling tube and said vent or overflow Atube are connected with a container to be filled from said filling tube.

6. In' filling apparatus, in combination with a filling tube and liquid supply means,

a flexible connection between said tube and said means, clamping-means acting on`said flexible connection to close it, means acting to remove the action of said .clamping means from said flexible connection when said filling tube is connected with acontainer to beV filled therefrom, and means holding .said clzjimping means and preventing its action on said flexible connection when the apparatus is not in use.

` 7`. I n filling apparatus, in' combination with a filling tube and a vent or overflow ones of which said filling tube and saidvent or overflow tube communicate, a shank extending u1p.from said connection head, upper and ower guiding means for said shank, a clamping meinber fixed on said shank above the lower guiding means, flexi- .ble tubes connecting with the respective passages in said connection head and ex tending between said Aclamping member and said lower guiding means, uul'connecting, respectively,,with said inlet and said overflow means, engaging means on said filling tube to engage with the top of the container when the filling tube is inserted therein and raise said tube and connection head, and means yieldably holding said connectionr head down, whereby the clamping means clamps said flexible tubes between it and said lower guiding means until raised with said connection head. .c

8.111 filling apparatus, in combination with a filling tube and a vent or overflow tube opening near the lower-'end of the filling tube, and Yinlet and overflow means tor said apparatus, a connection head having distinct passa-ges in it, with respective ones A of which Said filling tube and said veut or overflow tube communicate, a shank extending up from said connection head, upper and lower guiding means for said shank, a clamping member fixed on said shank above the lower guiding .means, flexible` tubes connecting with the respective passages in saidco'nnection head and extei'iding between said clamping member and said lower guiding means, and connecting, re-

spectively, with said inlet and said overflow ing tube, and inlet and overflow means for said anaratus a connection head havin" l. t

`distinct passages in it, with lrespective ones of which said lfilling tube and said vent or overflow tube con'nnunicate, a shank extending up from said connection head, upper and lower. guiding means for saidshank, a clamping member fixed on said shank abov( the lower guiding means, flexible tubes ronnecting with the respective passages in said connection head and. extending ,between said clamping member and said lower guidingv means, 'and connecting, respectively, 'with said inletand said overflow means, engaging means on said filling tube to engage with the top of the in tube is inserted. therein and raise said tu e and connection head,means yieldably holding said connection head down, where# by the lclampingmeans clam s said flexible tubesA between 1t and said ower guiding meansduntil raised vwith saidv connection head, and a detachable-connection between said shank -and said clamping member, permitting said connection tov be withdrawn from said clamping member and said guidmeans, vand connecting, respectively, with hold the'clalnping means up l' lowery passagew-itli whchfaid n.ecting with the respective head, and a hook on said clampmg member fixed on said shank above the-lower guiding means, flexible tubes conpassages 1n' said connection head and, extendingfbetween said clamping member and vsaid-lower"guiding said inlet and said overflow means, engaging means on saidvfilling with the top of, the contamer. when the fillin 'tube is inserted therein and`raise said tuEe vand connection head,means yiel:dably holding said connection head down, where- .by the clamping means clamps Said-flexible 'tubes between Vit and sa1d lower guiding 'means until raised with said connection connection head engaging with .said lower guidin l to hold the connection v'head' up, an thereby when thea Iiratusisnot ii1use--l .11. In {f lingfapparatus, l in-"trombination with a Hfillifl'ig tubefi'lfnd vent thereof, and inlet andzoverflown'means for said apparatnaa connection hea.

comuhicatalindn u w ich said vvent or ovefuowtu e communi cates', flexible Uomectidisfbetwn the re- Y and said l l V clampingmeahsjjto E'clasesaidfilleariblle con- A eo v spective the vconnection head 'nietA ,overfl l ries'oflli vent or' 'joverflow "tube for eac a manifold comprising-ang: in'- lety compartment andan;

ment, means rigidly supporting said mani- .fold and container when the fill- Alet compartment and an ment, means rigidly supporting said mani-l fold and guiding said filling tnbesi'and-vent or overflow tubes for u'pr and down move.- 'ment with respect to the 'flow tube to the apparatus, a connection head having passages in it, withwrespe'ctive ones and said -ventl ory 'sides of the ment andain from sald'tubes' fori-overflow having aling tubeassage with" with a series Tof fi tudinal partitioni closed against' the overflow compart-l guiding said filling tubes and vent or overflow tubes for up and down move ment with respect to the supporting means and manifold, a ,flexible connection from each filling tube to the inlet compartment,

a flexible connection from each vent or over flow tube to the overflowy compartment, and

clamping means toclose said flexible connections against the passage of liquid;

13. In filling apparatus, a series of filling tubes and a vent or overflow, tube for each filling tube, a manifoldrcomprising aniinoverflow compartsupporting means and manifold, a flexible each filling tube 'to the inlet'compartment, a-flexible connection from each vent or overs overflow compartment, and a clamping means connection, from for theflexible conneo .l i tions'of each filling tube audits ventl or f overflow tube operative .independentlls7 of the clamping means of the other exible connections.

14. In filling-apparatus, a series of fillin tubes and avent or overflow tube for eac i filling tube, let. compartment and an; overflow compartment, means rigidlgr -supportin said, manifoldfand supporting and uiding' said fill ing. tubes andjvcnt or overow tubes for up a l.manifold comprising an in-v and down movement-with. respect 'to the' supporting means and manifold, a flexible con-1 nection -from' each` filling tube to the-inlet compartment; vva flexible ico connection from each 'ventor overflow tube to vthe overflowv compartment', clampingmeans to-close said' flexible connections against the passagcfo liquid, said manifold comprising an outer tubewith :a lon itudinal'partition inside,"

the tube With 'en s 4closed against the inner tlb ver an outletfcnnecti partment, af-1111i pl tending onlyth'rogh manifold, and a nip let ble connection-fof earl); and extending through the oirtcr"wall, the inlet compartment',

overflow tube for eac filln tube, a maniy fold comprising-f outergtu nsideth-itube forming an inlet 'compartment flow compartment, 4an inlet forming an inlet comparti.

vent for overflotvltiib tition, to the overflow compartment. 15."In` fllingfaparatus, in combination 1n tubes, and a' 'vent or inner"sides"of the andanove# aannemen mx the inlet compartment fand outlet connec` tion w the waarnemen@- for connection 4to each filling tube', extend-' p ing only through the outer walllof the manifold` tube intoy the inlet lcompartment@ a nipple rfor connection to each vent or over-v v .with a fillingtube, a vent or overflow tube inside the filling tube and opening near the lower end thereof, a connection headhaw ing a lower passage and an upper passage with which, respectivel ,said filling tu e spectively, with ythe lower and upper pas,- sages therein and extendingv outward and curving upward and back toward said shank, means having an inlet passage and an outlet passage on the side of said supporting and" guiding means opposite from said curved tubes, flexible tubes connecting said curved tubes, respectively, with said in "let and outlet passages,xclamping means on said shank above said loiver supporting and guidingl means, said flexible tubes extending between this clamping means` and this fruiding means, and means for yieldably holiling said connection' head down in its guiding means and clamping said flexible tubes between said clamping means and saidy lower and said vent or over ow tube communi-lguiding means, to close said liexibletubes.

cate, a shank extending up from said connection head, u per and lower 1 uiding means for said s ank, rigid tubes xed'in said connecting head, communicating, re-

KARL KIEFER.

lVitnesses: l

Mmmm) E. LAMPHEAR, C. LYNNE THOMAS. 

